A singer, bandleader, radio and television performer, songwriter and standard-setting yodeler, he starred in at least two films in the late 1940s, and had hit records as late as 1968 with "The Jimmie Rodgers Blues".

He died on June 23, 1972, five days before his 59th birthday, due to a heart attack.

He had at least four children, at least three boys and one daughter. His father was James Baker, and he had two sisters, Gretta Sanders and Druse Baker, and several brothers.